Transmission



May 26, 1953 A. B. WISER 2,639,629

TRANSMISSION Filed Jan. 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. B. WISER May 26, 1953 y TRANSMISSION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1949 Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE TRANSMISSION Arthur B. Wiser, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 7, 1949, Serial No. 69,732

.. My .invention relates inf general to variable speed. transmissions, i. e., transmissionsfor varyn ingratios between vinput and output speeds, and, `more particularly, to variable speed transmissions of the type which includes normally unrestrained gearing incapable .of transmitting,v torque and which includes means for restraining such gearingto effect torque transmission, a primary object of the present'invention being to provide an improved variable speed transmission of this type.

More specically, a primary object of the invention is to provide a transmission capable ci .producing an infinite number of output speeds ranging iromzero to speeds in excess ofy input speed in either direction. f

An important object of the `invention is to provide such a transmission having dynamic, rather than static, means for restraining the aforemen tioned gearing.

Another object is to provide a transmission wherein the aforementioned dynamic restraining means is actuable by dynamic, rather than static, uid. More specifically, it is an object to .provide a restraining means actuable hydraulically by a stream of fluid.

A further object is to provide a transmission which includes a main gear, a rotor rotatable relative to the main gear, an auxiliary gear carried by the rotor and meshed with the main gear, a turbine connected to the rotor and actuable by a stream of fluid, and means for deliveringa stream of fluid to the turbine.

Still another object is to provide a transmission which includes a driving gear, a driven gear rotatable relative to the driving gear, a normally unrestrained rotor, gear means carried by .the rotor and meshed with the driving and driven gears and adapted to communicate rotational movement of the driving gear to the rotor, a turbine connected to the rotor and. actuable by a stream of fluid to restrain the rotor, vand means for delivering a stream of fluid to the turbine.

A transmission conforming structurally to the foregoing objects is capable of varying its output speed from Zero to speeds in excess of its in ut speed in infinitesimal increments, which is an important feature of the invention. It will be noted that since output speeds in excess of input speeds are attainable, the invention provides an extremely desirable feature in that the transmission of the invention provides, in effect, an overn drive having particular utility in automotive Ainstallations, although not limited thereto.

Still Vanother object of the invention is to pro- 3 claims. (o1. musst) vide a transmission or the foregoing character havingmeans 'for'producing rotation of lthe driven gear lin eitherdirection, i. e., either forward. or v reverse. 1" Another important object of the invention. is to provide a. transmission wherein the means for delivering a stream o f fluid to the turbine includes aifpump which is operatively connectedto the driving'gear so that the power requiredfor operating the pump is derived from the motivating agent, e. g., an automobile engine, which operates the driving gear.

Still another important object of the invention is to .provide a transmission having means for varying the magnitude of a stream of fluid delivered by thepump so as to'var'y the amount of dynamic restraint imposed on the rotor through the turbine connected thereto, whereby to vary the output speed of the transmission relative to the input speed thereof.

Another object is to provide a transmission wherein-the aforementioned control means for varying the magnitude of the stream of iiuid. comprises valve means for controlling the inlet of thepurnp.

Another object is to provide a transmission having means for rigidly connecting the driving and driven gears to prevent free wheeling whenever. desir-ed.

`Another object is .to provide a transmission havingv means for selectively preventing free `wheeling of .the driven gearv with respect to the driving geaigior reversing the direction of rotationof the driven gear with respect to the driving gear.

The foregoing objects of the present invention and the advantages suggested thereby, together with various other objects and advantages thereof whichy will become apparent, may be attained through the employment of the Yexemplary embodiments or the vinvention which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings andl which are described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

vFig. 1 is a' .longitudinal sectional view of a transniission` which embodies the invention;

Fig. Zis a transverse sectional view taken along the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Eig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view duplicating a portion. of Fig. l on anenlarged scale;

.'rigJi is a longitudinal sectional view which is similarto Fig; l but which illustrates.- another embodiment vof the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse' sectional view takenon the broken line 5 5 of Fig. 4. c

the driving gear.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the embodiment illustrated therein includes a transmission case or housing l and includes driving and driven shafts I and I2 which are rotatably mounted in the housing by means of bearings I3 and I4. The driving and driven shafts are axially aligned and are rotatable relative to each other, the driven shaft having at one end thereof a cylindrical projection I5 which is journailed in a bore I6 in one end of the driving shaft. The driving shaft II is adapted to be operatively connected to any suitable motivating agent, such as an automobile motor, and the driven shaft I2 is adapted to be connected to a mechanism to be driven, such as the propeller shaft leading to the differential and rear wheels of an automobile.

Fixed on the driving shaft is a driving gear 2| and rlxed on the driven shaft I2 and spaced from the driving gear`2| is a driven gear 22, the gears 2| and 22 being bevel gears in the particu. lar construction illustrated. Rotatable on the driving and 'driven shafts and I2 at their junction and located intermediate the driving and driven 'gears 2| arid-22 is a double#bei/'elY gear 23 which is referred to hereinafter as an intermediate gear. Rotatable on the driving shaft II intermediate the gears 2| and 23 is a rst rotor 2 4, and rotatable on the driven shaft I2 intermediate theg'ears 22 and 23 is a second rotor 25.

The rotors 24 and 25 are respectively provided with hubs 26 and 21 to which are connected annular rims 28 and 29, and are respectively provided With a plurality of radial shafts 3|] and 3| which extend between the hubs and rims thereof. Rotatable on each of the radial shafts 30 of the rotor 24 and mesh'ed with the driving gear 2| and the intermediategear 23 is anpin'ion 32, yand rotatable on each of the radial shafts 3| of the rotor and meshes with the intermediate gear- 23 and the driven gear 22 is a pinion 33'.- v y Considering the operation yof the transmission as thus far described, it will be apparent that their shafts 3e by the driving gear, will react against the intermediate gear 23 to rotate the rotor 24 inthe direction of rotation of the driving gear. However, if rotation ofthe rotor 2 '4 in the direction of rotation of the ldriving gear 2| is prevented, or if the vspeed of suoli rotation is reduced, the intermediate gear 23 will rotate in a direction opposite tol the direction of rotation of With the particular construction illustrated, if the rotor 24 is restrained to such an extent that it rotates in the `direction of rotationpof a driving gea'i` 2| at a kspeed less than that of the driving ge'ar, the intermediate gear 23 will be driven in the opposite direction 'atta speed less than that of the driving gear. Similarly, if rotation of the rotor 2'4 in the direction of rotation 'of thedriving gear 2| is prevented, i. e., if

the rotor 24 is held stationary, theintermediate gear23 will rotate at the -same speed as the driving gear 2|, but in the opposite direction. Carrying the analysis further, if therotor 24 is rotatedin afdire'ction opposite to the direction of 'rotation of the driving gear 2 I, the intermediate gear 23 will rotate in a 'direction opposite to the speed in excess of the speed of the driving gear,

which is an important feature of the present invention.

As will be apparent, a similar relationship obtains between the intermediate gear 23, the rotor 25 and the driven gear 22. In other words, if the intermediate gear 23 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the driving gear 2| in the foregoing manner, and if rotation of the second rotor 25 is unopposed, the second rotor will rotate in a 4direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the driving gear 2| and the driven gear 22 will remain stationary. Similarly, if rotation of the rotor 25 is retarded or prevented, the driven gear 22 will be rotated in the direction of rotation of the driving gear 2| at speeds respectively less than or equal to the speed of the intermediate gear 23. Also, if rotation of the rotor 25 is not only prevented but is reversed, i. e., if the rotor 25 is caused to rotate in the direction of rotation of the driving gear 2 I, the driven gear 22 will be lcaused to rotate in the direction of rotation of the driving gear 2| at a 'speed in excess of the speed of rotation of the intermediate 'gear 23, which is an important feature of the invention.

Thus, in the 'nal analysis, if the rotors 24 and 25 are permitted to rotate without restraint, rotation 'of the driving shaft will not be communicated to the driven shaft I2. However, if the rotors 24 and 25 are restrained, but not held stationary, the driven shaft I2 will rotate in the direction of rotation of the driving shaft but at a speed less than that of the driving shaft. Similarly, if the rotors 2li and 25 are held stationary, the driven shaft I2 will be rotated in the direction of rotation of the driving shaft i! and at the same speed. Also, if the normal directions 'of rotation of the rotor 24 and 25 are reversed, the driven shaft l2 will be caused 'to rotate in the direction of rotation of the driving shaft and at a speed in excess of the speed of the driving shaft, thereby providing an overdrive, which is `an important feature of the invention. It will be apparent that in order to obtain a f higher speed for the driven shaft I2, it is not necessary that the directions of normal rotation of both the rotors 24 and 25 be reversed, since the same effect 'can be obtained with one of the rotors stationary, or with it rotating at reduced speed in its normal direction of rotation, by rotating theother rotor in reverse at a suiciently high speed. However, it is preferable, although not necessary, that the two rotors operate alike.

As indicated previously, the present invention contemplates operatively connecting turbines 34 and 35 to the respective rotors 24 and 25 and employing fluid 'streams to operate the turbines lso Ias to retard rotation of the rotors in their normal directions of rotation, to prevent rotation of the rotors in directions opposite to their normal directions of rotation. As best shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, in the particular embodiment under consideration the turbines 34 and 35 respectively comprise blades or vanes 32 and 39 on the annular rims 28 and 29. The Huid streams are directed 'against the vanos 38 and 39 in directions opposite tothe normal directions of rotation of the rotors 2li 'and 25 by nozzles 40 and 4|. yIt will be noted that the nozzle 40 for the varies 38 on the rotor 24 has been superimposed on Fig. l of the drawings in phantom to illustrate its position relative to the rotor 24. The nozzle 40 communicates with a longitudinal passage 44 which communicates with a transverse passage 45 extending across the housing 0,

the passage inL turncommunicating with the passage 46. The nozzle -4I communicates with a longitudinal passage 4l which communicates with the passage 46. Y

Fluid is delivered to the nozzles 40 and 4I through the foregoing passages by a pump5Il which is mounted in the housing II) and which is of the centrifugal type, the rotor (not shown) of the pump being xed on a shaft 5I which is carried by bearings 52. The pump is provided with an axial inlet 53 through which fluid from the housing Irmay enter the pump, and is provided with a radial outlet 54 which, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, communicates with the aforementioned passage 46 leading to the nozzles 4I) and 4I through the intervening passages. Any suitable fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, lubricating oil, or the like, may be employed, and the level of such uid is preferably maintained above the inlet 53 ofthe pump.

The pump is actuated by gearing which Vin'- teroonnects` the driving shaft II andthe vpump shaft 5I, such gearing comprising a spur gear fixed on the driving shaft and a spur gear 56 fixed on the pump shaft. Thus, it will be apparent that rotation of the driving sh-aft IIlwill operate the pump 50 to deliver fluid to the nozzles 4Q and 4I, the latter directing streams of fluid against the vanes 3S and 39 on the rotors 24 and: 25 toretard, prevent, or reverse normal rotation of the'l rotors to vary the speed of the driven shaft I2 relative to that of the driving shaft I I.`

. As will be apparent, the extent to which nor mal rotation ofthe rotors 24v and 25 is retarded or reversed, and, thus, the speed of the driven shaft I2 relative to that of the driving shaft II, depend on the magnitude or power of the streams of fluid emanating from the nozzles 40 and 4I and directed against the vanes 38 and 39 of the turbines 34 and 35.

In order to permit varying the magnitudes of the fluid streams, and thus to permit varying the ratio of the speeds of the shafts II and I2, I y

provide; in the particular embodiments illustrated, valve means B0 for varying the rate at which fluid enters the inlet 53 of the pump 50. The valve means 6I) is shown as comprising the valve member 6I which is slidable on the pump shaft 5I to open` and close the inlet 53 of the pump 50, whereby to vary the rate of flow of fluid into the pump and, ultimately, the ratio of the speeds of the shafts II and I2, which is an important feature of the invention. In the particular construction illustrated, the valve member 6I is controlled by a slidable rod 62 through a yoke 63, the rod 62 extending into the housing I through a packing gland 64.

Considering the operation of the valve means El] in Ymore detail, it will be assumed that the operator desires to prevent torque transmission from the shaft I I to the driven shaft I2, in which oase the operator moves'the valve member 6I to the left, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings, until it closes the pump inlet 53. Consequently, no fluid will be delivered to theturbines 34 and 35 so that the rotors 24 and 25 are unrestrained. Consequently, no torque will be transmitted from the driving gear 2I to the driven gear 22. Thus, it will be apparent that the valve means provides, in effect, a clutch for disengaging the driving shaft I I', which is an important feature of the present invention.

Assuming now that the operator desires the driven shaft I2 torotate at a speed less than tion of the rotors 24 and 25.

s, that of thefdriving shaft II, itis'merely necessary tof displace the valve member 6I to the" right, as viewed inflig.r 1 of the drawings, until sufcient fluid is admitted into the pump 5I) to produce uid streams of sufcient magnitude to retard rotation of the rotors 24 and 25 to the desired'extent. If the operator desires that the shaft I2 be driven at the same speed as the shaft I I, it is merely necessary to' move the valve member 6I farther to the right, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings, to increase the pumping rate to a value suflicient that the fluid streams emanating from the nozzles 40 and 4I prevent rota- Similarly, if the operator desires an overdrive, i'. e., if the operator desires that the shaft I2 be driven at a higher speed than the Yshaft I I, it is merely neo'- essary to movethe valve member 6I to a position "approaching its fully open -position so that the pumpingratc is increased sufficiently to produce streams ofsufcientm'agnitudes to reverse the normalfro'tation of-` the rotors 24 and l25. f T hus, it willbe apparent that by "suitably positioning the valve member 6I with respect vto the pump inlet 53, anydesired'speed for the shaft relative to the shaft II may be obtained, ranging from a speed of zeroA to a speed in 'excess lof the speed'offthe' shaft Ii. The maximum Aspeed which can be attained forv the shaft I2 will, of course, Vdepend upon "the capacity'of the pump 5&1, which -capacity can be inade any desired value.v i Y lIn addition to the foregoing; another advantage of the'present invention is that it provides a flexible connection "between the driving and driven `shafts II and I2 to prevent, or at least minimize, transmission of shock loads fromone to the other. Also, it'will be apparent that the transmissionvof the invention automatically adjusts the-speed of "the driven shaft I2 to compensate for variations in load on thedriven shaft,

which is another feature of the invention.

In order to permit reversing'the direction of rotation of the driven shaft I2 with respect to the driving shaft II, I provide axially shiftable means 'I0 4for rigidly connecting the shaft I2 and the rotor 25. `Rigidly connecting the shaft I2 to the rotor 25 in this manner requires that the shaft I2 rotate'in'theV saine direction as the rotor 25, whereby to drive the shaft I2 in the direction of rotation of the intermediate gear. Since the direction of rotationof the intermediate gear is always opposite to that of the driving gear 2l, it will be apparent that rotaton of the shaft i2 in a direction opposite to that of the driving gear will result. Consequently, the direction of rotation of the driven shaft I2 will be opposite to that of the driving shaft I I, to permit reversing an autom'obileyfor example.

As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the axially shiftable means comprises, in the particularconstruction illustrated, a key 'II which is normally disposed in a keyway 'I2 in the driven shaft I2, andfwhich is insel-table into a keyway I3 in the rotor 25- to rigidly connect the rotor 25 and the 4shaft I2. The key V'II is controlled by va rod 'I4 which is reoiprocable in a bore 'I5 in the driven shaft I2, the key being connected to the rod by yapin It which is movable in, a slot 'I'I inthe shaft I2. The rod 'I4 is controlled by a-:collar'IS which is axially movable on the shaft I2gand/'whicn1isconnected to the rod by'a pin T Qpwhich is movable in a slot in theshaft I2. The .collarfI may. be moved aXiallyof theshaft I2rto move 'thekey "IlI into and out of the keyway 7 T3 in any-suitable manner, as by; a. yolge (not s'hoWIi).V K

The' key ll is also insertable into `a kei/'Way 83 in thc shaft H to rigidly connect the shaft yn to the shaft Il so as to prevent free wheeling whenever desired. Thus, the axially shiftable means 'lil is adapted to selectively connect the rotor 25 to the shaft i2 to reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft l2, or to connect the shafts l! and l2 to prevent free Wheeling, which is another feature ofthe invention.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the embodiment illustrated therein is similar to that hereinbefore described and identical numerals have been employed to designate corresponding components. In the embodiment presently under consideration, the rotors it and $155, instead of being provided with vanes E and 5B, are provided with gears St and 95, these gears being bevel gears in the particular construction illustrated. Meshed with the respective gears Q4 and 95 are pinions S5 and Ell which are mounted on shafts 98 and si), respectively, these shafts being carried by the housing it, rTurbines l@ and l0! are respectively connected to the pinions S6 and 81 so as to drive same, the turbines being provided with blades S83 and IM, respectively.

It will be apparent that by operating the turbines |06 and lill to rotate the pinions 96 and 91', normal rotation of the rotors 2li and 25 will be retarded, prevented, or reversed, depending on the power input to the turbines. Since the normal directions of rotation of the rotors 2c and .i are opposite with respect to each other, the

pinions 96 and 9i' and, hence, the turbines I and IDI must be rotated in opposite directions. Consequently, a single uid stream may be employed to operate the turbines it@ and lei, a single notizie il being provided to direct such a fluid stream against the turbine blades m3 and I 06, as best shown in 5 of the drawings. The nozzle |05 communicates with the outlet of the pump 5@ through a passage Hic.

The principal advantage of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. i and 5 of the drawings over that illustrated in Figs. i to 3 thereof is that considerably smaller forces are required to retard, prevent, or reverse rotation of the rotors 2li and 25 because of the increased mechanical advantage provided by opposing normal rotation of the rotors 'M and 2li through the gears 94.--95 and Slt-5l, respectively.

Although I have disclosed two exemplary embodiments of my invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that I d0 not intend to be limited specifically thereto since various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the specific embodiments disclosed Without necessarily departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a transmission, the combination of a driving gear, an intermediate gear, a driven gear.

a rst rotor, first planetary gear means carried by said rst rotor and meshed with said driving and intermediate gears, said first gear means being adapted to communicate rotational movement of said driving gear to said first rotor, a second rotor, second planetary gear means carried by said second rotor and meshed with said intermediate driven gears, said second gear means being adapted to communicate rotational movement of said intermediate gear to said driven gear, a first turbine connected to said rst rotor,

a rst stream of fluid, nrst fluid delivering meansfor delivering said first stream of fluidto said viirst turbine to actuate the same to oppose said rotational movement of said first rotor, a second turbine connected to said second rotor, a second stream of fluid, and second fluid delivering means for delivering said second stream of fluid to said second turbine to actuate the same, to oppose said rotational movement of said second rotor, said nrst iiuid delivering means including rst nozzle means for directing said first stream of fluid to said first turbine, and said second uid delivering means including second nozzle means for directing said second stream of fluid to said second turbine, said first and second uid delivering means including in addition, a pump, having an inlet and an outlet, means for connecting the outlet of said pump to said rst and second nozzle means, valve means controlling the inlet of said pump to control the magnitudes of said first and second fluid streams, and actuating means for said pump, said actuating means for said pump comprising gearing connecting said pump to said driving gear.

2. In a transmission, the combination of a driving gear, an intermediate gear, a driven gear. a first rotor, rst planetary gear means carried by said first rotor and meshed with said driving and intermediate gears, said first gear means being adapted to communicate rotational movement of said driving gear to said first rotor, a second rotor, second planetary gear means carried by said second rotor and meshed with said intermediate and driven gears, said second gear means being adapted to communicate rotational movement of Said intermediate gear to said driven gear, a iirst turbine connected to said first rotor, a first stream of fluid, rst fluid delivering means for delivering said first stream of fluid to said first turbine to actuate thc same, to op- '.pose said rotational movement of said first rotor,

a second turbine connected to said second rotor, a second. stream of fluid, and second fluid delivering means for delivering said second stream of fluid to said second turbine to actuate the saine, to oppose said rotational movement of said second rotor, and means for selectively connecting said driven gear with said driving gear and said second rotor With said intermediate gear.

3. In a transmission, the combination of a driving gear rotatable about a predetermined axis, an intermediate gear spaced from said driving gear 'and rotatable about said axis, a driven spaced from said intermediate gear and rotatable about said axis, a first rotor disposed between said driving and intermediate gears and rotatable about said axis, a second rotor disposed between said intermediate and driven gears and rotatable about said axis, first planetary gear means carried by and. rotatable relative to said first rotor and meshed with said driving and intermediate gears, said driving gear and said first 'gear means being adapted to cooperate to rotate said first rotor in the direction of rotation of said driving gear and said first gear means and said intermediate gear being adapted to cooperate to rotate said intermediate gear in a direction oppo- 'site to the direction of rotation of said driving second planetary gear means carried by and rotatable relative to said second rotor and meshed with said intermediate and driven gears, said intermediate gear 'and said second vgear means being adapted to cooperate to rotate said second rotor in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said driving gear, and said second gear means and said driven gear being adapted to cooperate to rotate said driven gear in the direction of rotation of said driving gear, rotation opposing means including a single pump, for opposing rotation. Gf said iirst rotor in the direction of rotation of said driving gear and for opposing rotation of said second rotor in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said driving gear, and axially shiftable means for selectively connecting said driven gear with said driving gear and said second rotor with said intermediate gear.

ARTHUR B. WISER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Freitag Feb. 19, 1901 Schneider Mar. 14, 1933 Alexander Sept. 20, 1938 Verderber et a1 Apr. 11, 1939 Gregory Jan. 23, 1940 Chivlle Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland c- Aug. 15, 1930 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1925 Germany Sept. 21, 1921 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1932 

